Shock absorber



E.- DODDRIDGE SHOCK ABSORBER Now? 5, 1929.

Filed Jan'- 27, 1928 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 v 1,734,158

UNITED STATS. PATENT ems ELMER DODDRIDGE, or SOUTH BEND, INDIANA SHOCK ABSORBER Application filed January 27, 1928. serial no. 249,919.-

The invention relates to improvements in designates the casing of the device which is shock absorbers, and has for its object to propreferably cast into shape. The casing 1 has vide a device of this character in which hyno bottom, but the lower end thereof has in-' draulic means alone are used to absorb the ternal threads 2, by means of which a closure shocks, member 3 is secured to theicasing 1. The

A further object is to provide a device of closure member 3 is provided with an annular this character in which the springs ordinarily groove 4, which is adapted to receive a washer, used in devices of this character are entirely thus making a tight connection between'the dispensed with. closure member 3 and the casing 1 which will 10 A further object is to provide a device of prevent leaking. Secured Within the casing this character which is simple of construction, 1 by means of the threads 2 is a cylinder 5 cheap to manufacture, and easy to assemble. having a threaded annular flange 6 at its low- A further object is to provide a device of er end. The cylinder 5is also provided at its this character in which a plunger slidably upper end with a recessed bevelled flange 8,

1 mounted in a cylinder acts against an incomwhich abuts the bevelled annular shoulder pressible fluid, and in so acting provides a 9 within the casing and thus insures a correct cushioning motion for the vehicle to which positioning of the cylinder 5'in thegcasing 1; the device is attached. Within the cylinder 5 is disposed a tight fit- 'A further object is to provide a device of ting slidable plungerlO, which is adapted to 20 this character having means whereby the have an up and down movement in the cylin action of the device may be regulated, as for der 5. The plunger 10 has transversely dishot and cold weather. posed through it, near its upper end, a slot A further object is to provide a device of 11, which is adapted to receive the enlarged this character in which easy access may be rounded end 12 of the plunger arm 13. The

25 had to the internal parts thereof to allow replunger arm 13 is fiXedly secured to the rod pairs to be made. i 14 by means of the set screw-16. The rod 14 WVith the above and other objects in view, is disposed Within the casing" 1, and forms the invention resides in the combination and an integral part of the lever arm 15, so that arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, upon any movement of the lever arm 15, the

39 shown in the drawing, described and claimed, plungerarm 13 will move simultaneously it being understood that changes in the prewith it in the same direction and degree, The cise embodiment of the invention may be inner end of the rod 14 isheld in a bearing made within the scope of what is claimed in the casing 1,and the outer end of the rod 14 without departing from the spirit of the in is provided with a shoulder 17, which abuts 35 vention. 1 y the outer side of the casing 1, and which is $5 In the drawing: held tightly in that position by means of 'a Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the threaded washer or nut 18 secured to the rod device. 14 on the inner side of the casing 1. A suit- Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of able felt washer 19, and a protective washer the device taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. 20, are provided around the rod 14 at the out Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of er side of the casing 1 to prevent leakage from the device taken on line 33 of Figure 1. the casing, yet at the same time to allow lubri- Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View of the cation for the rod 14 where it passes through removable cylinder and the valves. the casing 1. At the outer end of the lever Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the dearm 15 is secured an arm 21 extending from vice showing the valve regulator and indithe member 22, which is secured to the axle cator. 23 of the vehicle by any suitable means. The Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of arm 21 is secured to the lever arm 15 and the the device showing the regulating valve. member 22 by means of a conventional ball Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 and socketjoint 24 which does not form a part of the invention, and to which no claim is made. The casing 1 is secured to the body of the vehicle by means of the flanges which are formed integrally with the casing 1 and extend therefrom.

The flange 6 of the cylinder 5 is provided at one side thereof with an elongated vertical orifice 26. Positioned below the orifice 26 is a flat valve member 27, mounted on the free end of a spring 28, which is secured to the opposite side of the flange 6. The valve member 27 is of sufficient size and shape to close the orifice 26 when the valve 27 is held incontact with the flange 6 below the orifice 26. The

casing 1 is provided nearthe bottom thereof,

flow of liquid therethrough will bev decreased proportionately. Integrally formed with the p1ugi29- at a point outside of the casing'l, is

an indicator or pointer 32 which coincides withthe .stopsorind'icia 33 to indicate on the outside of the casing the relative positions of theorifices 30 and 31. The regulation of the valve 29 is thus simplifiedby the use of the stops 33 and the pointer 32, as by having one position of the pointer indicate open position of the orifices, as for winter weather,- andanother position of the pointer indicate par tially closed position of the orifices, as for summer weather. The casing 1 is provided at its upper end with an opening 34 through which easy access maybe had to the inside of the casing and the parts therein, and which opening is covered Witha suitable removable cover 1 In operation thecasingl is' securedtothe chassis or body of the-vehicle by the use of suitable fastening means secured through the holes-in theflanges25. The arm 21- is secured,- bymeans of the member 22, to the axle of the vehicle The casing 1 is -filled'to a suitable level with an incompressible fluid, such as oil. As the vehicle moves along the road and strikes a bump, the Wheels and-axle bound upwardly, carrying with them the lever arm 15 and the plunger 10 within the-device. The plunger .10, in being pulled upwardly, creates a suction-atits under side,-.and the space within the cylinder 5 and under the plunger 10 is filled with oil whichis drawn from the upper part of the device through the orifices 26,30 and 31. When the plunger has reached the peak of its movement and starts to descend,

it isheld in check in so doing by the column of oil in the cylinder. The downward push of the plunger tends to push the oil from within the cylinder, and acts upon the bottom of the valve member 27, pushing it into contact with the bottom of the flange 6, and thereby closes the orifice 26. The oil must then discharge solely through the orifices 30 and 31 which are relatively small, and the plunger is thereby caused to resume its original position slowly, and thus to absorb the shock ordinarily suffered on the rebound.

From the above it will be seen that a shock absorber is provided which is simple of construction and operation, cheap of manufacture, easyto assemble, accessible for'repairs, and adjustable for varying weather conditions. r The invention having is claimed as new and useful is 1. A shock absorber comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder detachabl y secured in said casing. in spaced relation thereto, a recessed flange carried by the upper end of said cylinder and adapted to abut a shoulder on the inner side of said casing, a plunger disposed in said cylinder, a :lever arm, and a plunger actuatedby said lever arm, said plunger arm-having a freebearmg connection with saidpl unger. r

v2. A shock absorbercomprisinga fluid containing casing, a cylinder-disposed in saidcasing having laterally extendingflanges forming a partitionv betweent-he upper and;

lower parts of'the casing, a pistonoperable in said cylinder, means controlling the piston movement, means whereby fluid 'issquickly drawn into the cylinder upon a stroke of the piston in one direction, andmeanscarried by one-of said flanges whereby the discharge of.

fluid from the cylinderis restricted on the return strokeof the piston. I

3. A shock absorber comprising a fluid containing casing, an annular angular shoulder carried by the inner side of said casing, a cylinder detachably disposedin said casing,

a recessed bevelled flange carried by the upper end of said cylinder and abutting said shoulder, van annular flange carried by said cylinder having a threaded portion cooper ating with a threaded portion of said casing to hold the cylinder to place, a detachable closure carried by the open endof said casing, a plunger operating in said cylinder, and valves carried by the annular flange.

4:. A shock absorber'comprising a fluid cont-aining casing, a cylinder. disposed in Said casing, a plunger operati-ngin saidcylinder, a flange carried by said cylinder and-secured to said casing, valves disposed in said flange,

means whereby one of said valves may be taining casing, a cylinder having a laterally extending flange forming a partition between the upper and lower part of the casing, a check valve carried by said flange, said flange having a port formed therein, an adjustable valve member cooperating with said port and extending without the casing, a plunger operable within the cylinder, and means controlling the plunger movement.

6. A shock absorber comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder having a laterally extending flange forming a partition between the upper and lower part of the casing, a check valve carried by said flange, said flange having a port formed therein, an adjustable valve member cooperating with said port and extending without the casing, means indicating the degree of adjustment of said valve member, a plunger operable within the cylinder, and means controlling the plunger movement.

In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature.

ELMER DODDRIDGE. 

